Associate Director of Communications & Content

Organizational Summary

Contraceptive care is basic health care. Yet too many patients in the U.S. struggle to access the care they want, when they want it. 

A national nonprofit founded in 2014, Upstream USA partners with healthcare organizations to provide free training, education, and technical assistance to improve their contraceptive services and meet their patients’ needs – at no cost to them. Over ten years, we’ve supported 200+ healthcare partners (including primary care practices, federally qualified health centers, health systems, and more) with a transformative approach that empowers patients to access the contraceptive care where they already receive most of their healthcare. We’re on a path to partnering with health care organizations that collectively serve 5 million patients by 2030.

We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or the government. Our work is made possible by generous support from venture philanthropy. That privilege comes with high expectations about growth and scale and a focus on measurable outcomes and impact. 

We’re a 2023 Audacious Project recipient that continues to garner attention from many leading publications, including Harvard Public Health, Bloomberg, MedPage Today, Baltimore Sun, the Fresno Bee, and WBUR. We welcome individuals interested in career opportunities, partnerships, or philanthropic endeavors seeking additional information to visit our website (www.upstream.org) or email us at info@upstream.org.

Position Summary

Reporting to the VP, Communications, the Associate Director of Communications & Content is a strategic and creative leader responsible for both internal communications and our external content strategy (including whitepapers, insights articles, supporter emails, and webinar content). You will help drive the strategy and execution of organizational storytelling to ensure our mission, impact, and value are communicated consistently and compellingly to both employees and external stakeholders. 

This role requires exceptional writing, editorial, and storytelling skills, a high level of proactivity, an understanding of marketing, and the ability to seamlessly balance strategic planning with tactical execution. You will be instrumental in keeping employees informed and connected while producing high-quality, data-driven content that showcases Upstream's program and positions us as leading experts in the field of health and contraceptive care.

You must be comfortable overseeing our content calendar, managing multiple content workflows, measuring effectiveness across channels, and collaborating with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, subject matter experts, freelance writers, designers, and vendors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Communications (20%)

• Core Messaging: Co-develop and maintain the organization's core messaging frameworks, with Project Specialist’s support, to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment across all internal and external communications touchpoints.
• Strategic Planning: Build and implement communications plans around key organizational priorities, promotions, and changes to drive clarity, alignment, engagement, and trust across all audiences.
• Brand Stewardship: Maintain and enforce editorial guidelines, brand tone, and messaging frameworks that embody Upstream’s values and ensure consistency across all channels.

Internal Communications & Engagement (40%)

• Internal Communications Strategy: Manage and execute the internal communications strategy with the goal of keeping employees informed, connected to our mission, goals, values, and culture, and building resilience in the face of ongoing change.
• Channel Management: Oversee day-to-day internal communications channels, including the weekly employee newsletter, Intranet content updates, and leader talking points for internal presentations.
• Executive Communications: Partner with the VP, Communications and internal senior leadership to articulate, clarify, and cascade messaging from the senior leadership team.
• Internal Content: Plan, write, and edit various employee communication materials, identifying and sharing internal stories that align with strategic and business needs.
• Editorial Support: Provide general editorial and copyediting support for cross-functional teams and leaders' messages, focusing on clear language and optimal impact.

External Content Strategy & Production (40%)

• Storytelling & Content Creation: Write and drive the production of compelling, accurate, and timely external content across multiple formats, including long-form anchor pieces (e.g., white papers, insight articles), case studies, video scripts, and presentation/webinar content. Engage with freelance writers as needed, and conduct research and interviews as needed. 
• Content Management: Lead content planning meetings and manage the external content lifecycle, including editorial calendars, content workflows, and stakeholder buy-in.
• Content Portfolio Evolution: Continually pitch content ideas based on our program, marketing goals, and external news landscape. Conduct regular content audits and gap analyses to continuously improve and evolve the content portfolio.
• Additional duties as assigned

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

Upstream fosters a mission-oriented workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds. The ideal candidate upholds our mission of accessible, patient-centered contraceptive care, builds trust through empathy and honesty, and contributes to a collaborative culture. They bring enthusiasm to their work, creating opportunities for connection and celebration.

• 6-8+ years of progressive professional experience in communications, public relations, marketing, or a directly related field, with significant focus on content strategy and execution.
• Proven experience managing complex projects, content workflows, vendors/agencies, and collaborating with senior leadership.
• Demonstrated track record, often evidenced by a portfolio, of developing and executing successful internal and external communications strategies and producing high-quality, data-driven content across multiple formats.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills for a variety of audiences (employees, stakeholders, public); ability to translate complex programmatic information into compelling, clear, and accurate content (e.g., white papers, blog posts, video scripts) and preferably experience with data visualization.
• High level of proactivity and the ability to seamlessly balance strategic planning with tactical execution; expertise in developing and enforcing core messaging frameworks, editorial guidelines, and brand tone; ability to build and implement comprehensive communications plans around key organizational priorities and changes.
• Demonstrated success in managing and executing an internal communications strategy to inform, connect, and build resilience among employees; skilled in crafting executive communications (e.g., talking points, internal presentations) and articulating senior leadership messaging.
• Content Management Proficiency in managing the entire external content lifecycle (pitching, production, editorial calendars, workflows, stakeholder sign-off, audits).
• Analytical skills to conduct content audits, gap analyses, and measure content effectiveness across channels.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including subject matter experts, designers, and vendors.
• Demonstrates the ability to remain focused, adaptable, and solution-oriented in the face of challenges, setbacks, or ambiguity. Approaches obstacles with a growth mindset and maintains a steady commitment to goals, even under pressure or changing circumstances; resilient. 
• While we are a remotely based organization, we maintain an on-camera culture during meetings to support connection, engagement, teaming and collaboration. Must be comfortable and able to participate in this environment.

Valued and Non-Essential Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

 (Not required to apply)

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field

Travel Requirements

This role will require up to 10% business travel. All Upstreamers can expect a minimum of 8 days of business travel per year to attend 1 annual organizational retreat and 1 or 2 annual team/department meetings.

Hiring Range

The hiring range for this role is $124,800-$150,000.

Pay Transparency

Final offers for this position will be based upon several factors including the scope of the role, market compensation analysis, position requirements, candidate’s experience level and capabilities, fairness in internal pay considerations and will be made within the parameters of Upstream USA's compensation framework and philosophy.

Other Upstream Staff Expectations

• All Upstreamers must be able to attend work-related in-person meetings and functions as needed. 
• In our hybrid work environments, there is a basic expectation that our Upstreamers will ensure that their work from home setups will have reliable access to phone and Internet to ensure connectivity to their teams.
• At Upstream we gather for moments that matter for training, teaming and connection. Our teams come together for occasional in person meetings and organizational retreats. As part of our hybrid work practices, this travel expectation will be applicable for all Upstreamers, even those based remotely.
• Engage in organization-sponsored  learning & development

Upstream Benefits

Upstream USA offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short term disability, 401K with a match, generous vacation, personal, sick and holiday time off, parental leave, professional development, a fitness and cell phone allowance for all full time employees and part time employees who work a minimum of 24 hours per week. Intern positions and contingent worker roles are not eligible for benefits.

Hiring Process

Candidates who advance in our preliminary review process will have an opportunity to discuss the position, their employment background and lived experience with a member of our talent acquisition team by telephone. Those who advance to subsequent steps in our interview process may participate in up to three rounds of meetings by Zoom or in person and in a thought exercise/case study assignment. Each round could consist of multiple meetings with various Upstreamers. If you need anything in advance of your interviews, please reach out to your recruiter. 

Our Culture 

We are dedicated to fostering a fair and accessible talent lifecycle, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive. From recruitment to career development, we strive to create a workplace where talent is recognized, supported, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Building a strong, representative workforce is essential to our success, and we prioritize collaboration, transparency, and shared leadership to cultivate an environment where all voices are heard and valued.

Our commitment extends beyond hiring—we invest in professional growth, mentorship, and inclusive workplace practices to support long-term success for our employees. You can learn more about our organization on our career site. 

Upstream Careers

Our goal is to attract, develop and retain exceptional people, and to create a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential.  Upstream is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Upstream USA participates in E-Verify.

Upstream Headquarters

2 Oliver Street, Suite 402, Boston, MA 02109

www.upstream.org

No phone calls please.

Be advised that we do not ever conduct hiring interviews via text or email. Please protect yourself by learning more about our hiring practices and common red flags to look out for.